Sunday 5th October 2025 ko 14:00

Southern Counties East League Premier

HOLLANDS & BLAIR 2 (Rowlands 35p Gray 73)

SNODLAND TOWN 2 (Shoderu 37 Lee 90+1)

Att 372

Entry £7

Programme £2

Whatever happened prior to our trip to Gillingham I just wanted to GroundhopUK’s stint with the Southern Counties East to end well. We’d enjoyed the morning with Hythe Town, and as the coach pulled into the Star Meadow Social Club I fully expected to find the place looking similar to what I’d seen roughly 10 years earlier. The truth was, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

On one level Hollands & Blair rent this place from the social club, so that’s why what went on outside the clubhouse was both varied and interesting. But the ground itself has been transformed with the pitch levelled and converted to 3G. There are new stands too, and the whole feel is of a modern non league stadium that reflects very well on all concerned.

There was an infectious buzz around the place, and that had been created by the club thinking long and hard about what they were going to do and how. Consider the contrast between the the atmosphere here and at Glebe the previous evening- like chalk and cheese. And that seemed to be just about the only item of food not available!

We were treated to an excellent game too, with Teddy Sheringham’s son Charlie leading the line for Snodland who snatched a draw right on the final whistle to the obvious disappointment of the hosts. They, I would point out won in other areas….

It was good to end the SCEFL Hop on a high, and an event that started with one of the best hostings I’ve ever been involved with – at Punjab United deserved no less. There’ll be a slight rejig of the schedules for GroundhopUK for 2026 but in essence the replacement for SCEFL will be the Midland League. Knowing the league as I do that will involve some highly memorable grounds. But as we departed Gillingham, I just felt thankful to all those people that gave us our years with the Southern Counties East. Thanks to you all.